Process and apparatus for enhancing boron removal from water

Abstract

A process and apparatus for enhanced boron removal from water. The process includes the steps of reacting potassium carbonate or ammonium carbonate with calcium borate in a stream of feed water to form a stream having calcium carbonate and potassium borate salt or ammonium borate salt. The stream having calcium carbonate and potassium borate or ammonium borate is introduced to an ion exchange vessel containing resin having methylglucamine in salt form with potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate to form borate and potassium sulfate or sodium sulfate. The resin in the ion exchange vessel is periodically regenerated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for boron removal from feed water, which process comprises:
 reacting potassium, ammonium or sodium in hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate form with calcium borate in a stream of feed water to form a stream having a borate salt; 
 introducing said stream having said borate salt to an ion exchange vessel containing boron selective resin having methylglucamine in salt form with potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate to form borate and potassium sulfate or sodium sulfate; and 
 regenerating said resin in said ion exchange vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The process as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said stream is introduced to said vessel containing resin through a diffuser screen. 
     
     
       3. The process as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said boron selective resin is macroporous polystyrene resin. 
     
     
       4. The process as set forth in  claim 1  including the additional preliminary step of providing potassium, ammonium or sodium carbonate to said feed water by passing a portion of said stream of feed water through a water softener resin.